Shoe-polishing machine.



I 0.,F. BURKHART. f SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 22, 1912.

Patented J an. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. P. BURKHART.

SHOE POLISHING "MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED APR.22, 912.

H N n hm 1. 5mi

ma x 45 polish' paste otothehmdtrihl whihhis 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. BURKHART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE-POLISHING MACHINE To all whom it may) concern:

, Be it known that 1, CHARLES F.- Bpnx- HART, a citizen of the United StdCeS,T6S1dlng at New York, in the county and State of New- York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Polishing Machines. of which the following) is a specification.

This, invention relates to a machine for polishing shoes and it has" the object to pro- 10 wide a' simple, eflicient and'durable machine whereby shoes m'hjy helpolished by a com bined rubbing and whipping action of the band, cloth or wiper relatively to the shoe .in imitation -;of this action as now com-q inonlj practiced 'when polishing shoes by- In the accompanying drawings consist-mg :of. 2 sheets: Figure lis a' vertical longitudinal section of-the preferred form ofmachine embed ing my invention. Fig. 2

is a top plan view .of therubbingband or: I ;-su pport wiper and the adjacent parts ofjthe means for supporting, and actuating the same.

Figs. 3, 4v and 5 are vertical trensverse sections in the correspondingly numberedlines in- Fig. 1. 6'1sa fragmentary perspective view showing the preferred means for fastening the or rubbin'gband to i supp a section, on'an enlarged scale, of the same. Fig. 8 is a fragmentarv-sideelefvetion showg; 7 e versed-transverse so as. to produce a gloss or'shineth'e'reon by th j frictional action -of this band-on the been applied asthe shoe: This previo nd may constructed of any rubbing suitable pliablje mean; such! as woven e 'th te i. a, a,

in g"mot1en is im artedtatheaame iii-elmmfioncros wssi fes time as a: time Specification of Letters Patent. Patn'ted an. 28, 1 913.-

' Kpplicati'on illeil kpril'fl 19121 Serial No. 692,244. I

all of said arts of the shoe under the action of the ruh'ing band and the latter" is also moved bod'il 1n a vertical direction toward and-from this shoe in imitation of the action which is Eracticcd by bootblacks, this havmg the e ect of rendering the polish more brilliant. The preferred means for thus operating the rubbing band comprises a supportfwhich consists ofa major or'main swinging arm which is pivoted at .its rear end on a fixed horizontal axis'farranged transversely to the shoe supporting stand,

preferably the form of an arm which supports the polishing hand and is l/Yivotally connected with the frontf end of t e main mallyhorizont'al axis which-is arranged at right" angles to the axis oft-heinfinarm. In the Freferred' construction of; -pivotal at itsreair'end on a, horizontal driving shafi 6"which journaledlin a transverse hearing .7 mounted on theadjacentpart 8 of the .ststiona'ryfieme of th'e mach ne so that this arm; can swingvrtically hho' thisshaft.

6' min arm'"by e ith? refitte eff ainir n m ncted a 'tsl'frontjgend th the lower end I tip}: a g efiect sung Iruhbing cloth mine shoewhichf movement-i323, eferably; though not n essarily, prodii shown in-Fig. 1. Anysuitable means may those the drewings;,esan being itggbltiimi;comp s ngv na elyndisl p I small ulley-11s n the eters ft large-pull.

part 4 having ,the form of a vertically' 'anda minor or auxiliary'section "5 havingf h ns'o f a. mock shaft 9 ourn'aled' fl bearingsjli)" 6 fire s pportfm'g arms.- for-"producing the bymeans of a. crank shift 11' arranged below the mainarm, and at link '12 connecting-the crank 13- of the crank shaft with the main arm, "as

Su p r ing arm so as to turn-about, a nor or'the main-arm the same -is hun The auxiliary arm L=shaped and-provlded with alho'rizpnt '-upper=fron t' rtion which isfigivotallyconnected with the front m yed f t l li e ren sishi f m I, 7. 01 the emu}; j electric-mutate included is anselectn eir l as the top and sides as well as to the front end connected by bars 37 each of which is pro,'

forfthus yieldingly connecting the polishing band with the auxiliary arm of the support comprises two downwardly bowed springs 20, 21 refer-ably of the leaf type which are secured respectively to the front and rear ends of tlie upper horizontal part of the auxiliary arm, and two longitudinal stretching bars '22 arranged on opposite sides of the auxiliary arm and each connected'with one of the corresponding pairs of ends of the springs and also with the adjacent end of the rubbing or polishing band. Although various means may be employed for connecting the polishing band withthe stretching bars this is referably efiected by providing each of tiese bars on its outer side with a longitudinal undercut channel or groove 38 which opens downwardly and providing the polishing-cloth with thickened longitudinal edges or ribs 39 eachof which is' arranged in the enlarged part ofone of the undercut. channels while the adjacent narrow part of the cloth is arranged in the narrow or contracted throat of the channel, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This thickening of the cloth ispreferably produced by folding the edge of the cloth around a cord 40 and securing the same to.- gether bystitching-or otherwise. This construction permits ofIreadily attaching a,

cloth to the springs and removing the same therefrom when the cloths become worn and require renewal. The front ends of the Stretchingbars and the channels thereon are bent or turned; downwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, for the purpose of causing the rubbing cloth to conform substantially to or toe part of the shoe while in contact with the same and promote the polishing action of the same.

In the modification of the fastening for the polishing cloth shown in Fig. 8 the corresponding ends of the springs 20, 21 are vided with a longitudinal row of perforations 23, and the respective-end of the polishing band is secured .to this bar by-means of stitches passing through the band and the openin of the companion bar 37.

As t 'e rubbing band is, brought down upon the shoe thei-pentral pert deflected u Wardly relatively to the lateral -or longitu inal edges thereof so that the band is wrapped more or less around the shoe and the rear part of the band is also bent or wrapped downwardly over the front end of the toe of the shoe, as shown in Figs. 1,4 and 5, this being permissible owing to the y'iel ing su port for the rubbing band which i furnislibd by the springs. The latter at this time are drawn together with theirends and strained so as to maintain the rubbing band'constantly under tension while in th s position. Inasmuch as the rear part of the rubbing hand must be capable -of wrap toe in a ditlon to conforming to the upper surface of the toe while the front part of this band need only be wrapped crosswise over the top of the shoe adjacent to the instep of the same, it is desirable to render the Q rear spring more elastic than the front spring so as to permit the rubbing band to conform itself readily to these'parts ofthe shoe.- The preferred-means for accomplish-f ing this purpose consists in constructing the front bow s ring 20 of a larger number i of leaves than the rear spring 21, asshownv in Figs. 4 and 5, thereby rendering the front spring stifier than the rear spring and cause ing the front parbof the polishing band to be held more taut than the rear part thereof, whereby this band is enabled toadapt. itself readily to the changing'formation of the exterior of the shoe as it sweeps in a curved path back and forth around the'umi same. The two sets of leaves of the front and near springs are preferably held in place by engaging the upperor main leaf 'of each 7 spring with the underside of thehorizontal ortion of the auxiliary. supporting arrnfiind aiding the same in thisposition byi'means of-a lo 'tudinal clampi bar'24-engaging with --tl i underside of 31% inner leaves "of,

means of clamping bolts 25, as shown in' the drawings, or by any other suitable means-1 l The rocking movement of the shaft 9. for

causing the polishingcloth to'sweep back and'forth crosswise [of the shoe may be .produced by various meansbut preferably-; by the means which are shown in the drawings and which comprise a transversely reciprocating gearrack 26 guidedina suitab e way 27 on the main supporting arm, a gear i pinion 28 mounted on thearear'end ofthe a these springs and connecting this'clam'ping n bar with; the auxiliary supporting -arm"' ,by-' 11 ingaround the front end of the rock Shaft and meshing-with the'ge rac A a. longitudinal intermediate shaft 29;-jour naled in bearings 3Q nnotheim'ainsupport;

ing arm, a link 81 edilneqtingfaibrank 32.5011 .125

the front end of theiinterme ateishaft with the ar rack, and a=pair=-of inter-meshing "beve gear wheels 33's'ecured respectively to termediate I he .d

the driving Shaft and the near-endof the ir'i-} fi E lIFfi FP -iiIBQ erably operated from .the same motor which raises and lowers the polishing mechanism,

the means for this purpose shown in the.

drawings consistin-g'mf a belt 34 passing around pulleys 35, 36-mounted respectively on the motor shaft and .the driving shaft.

-By this means a continuous rotary move ment is imparted from the driving shaft to the intermediate shaft, a reciprocating movement is transmitted to the gear rack by the crank 32 aiidlink 31 and an oscillating movement is imparted to the rock shaft and the polishing cloth connected therewith by means of the'pinion engaging with the gear rack. This oscillation of the polishing clot-h continues uninterruptedly during the rising and falling movement of the same inasmuch as the driving connection between the intermediate shaft and the motor is not disturbed during such movement.

During the operation of this machine the I patron places his shoe upon the stand while the polishing cloth isin an elevated position afterwhich-the switch is closed so as to start the motor. Thereafter the polishing cloth will be moved'slowly toward and from the shoe on the stand with a whipping action andat the same time this cloth will be oscillated in a. direction crosswise of the shoe. as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that while the cloth is depressed into engagement with the shoe the latter will receive a plurality of polishing strokes. This is repeated during each subsequent depression of the polishing clot-h updn the shoe and results in. quickly It will it: noted that when the support of the polishing clot-h is in its lowest position the same brushes or rubs the shoe with the heaviest pressure which pressure is gradually reduced and causes'the cloth to bear very lightly on the shoe as the same is being lifted therefrom,- thereby rubbing the polishing materigorously into the -shoe during the ria ,ipazti al part of the polishing operation and hen gradually relieving the pressure so as to leave the surface of the shoe brilliant.

After the shoe has been polished the motor may be again stopped .by opening the switch. If desired, however, .the motor may run continuously in which case the patron will place his-shoe upon the stand during the upstroke oft'he folislring band and also withdraw the same from the pp'hshmg position while the '56. polishing band 1s in its elevated position.

This construction of shoe polishing machin eis comparatively simple, the same is not liable to get outof order by ordinary usage,-thereis no liability of injuring the foot whileusing the same and it operates to produce a very satisfactory and high polish "on the shoejin acomparatively short time,

v thereby enabling a large number of custom- '.ers, to

I claim as my invention:

1. A shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band provided at its edges with thickened parts, and a support for said band having bars each of which has a longitudinal undercut channel adapted to receive the thickened part. at one edge of the band.

2. A shoe polishing machine comprisin a rubbing band provided at its edges with thickened parts, and a support for said band having bars each of which has a longitudinal undercut channel adapted to receive the thickened part at. one edge of the cloth, the front end of ,said channels being turned downwardly.

3. A shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band having a normally horizontal rear part and a downwardly turned front part, and means for supporting and moving said. band in engagement with a shoe to be polished.

4. A shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band adapted to on age with a shoe to be polished. a support f or said band, a rock. shaft on which said support is mounted and which turns about anormally horizon-' tal longitudinal axis, and means for raising and lowering saidshaft.

5. A shoe rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe to be polished, and a support for said band comprising a major oscillating section which turns about a fixed horizontal axis and a minor section which carries'said band and which is 'pivotally connected with said major section by a joint the axis of which isarran ed at right angles to said fixed axis.

6. A s we olishing machine comprising a rubbing ban adapted to engage with a shoe to be polished, a support for said band, a rock shaft upon which said support is mounted mally horizontal longitudinal axis, and means for raising and lowering said shaft comprising a rotatable crank,- and a link connecting saidcrank and said support.

rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe 'to be polished, a. vertically swinging main supporting arm, a horizontal driving shaft which is journaled in fixed bearings and about which said main arm turns, an auxiliary oscillating supporting armpivoted on the main arm at right angles to the axis of said shaft, and means for operating said auxiliary arm by motion derived from said shaft.

8. A shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe to be pollshed, a vertically swinging main supporting arm, a horizontal driving shaft which is journaled in fixed bearings and about which said main arm turns, an auxill iory oscillating sup rt-ing arm pivoted on be handled expeditiouslyand profit-- -the main arm at rig t angles to the axis of 7. IA' shoe polishing machine comprising a i polishing machine comprising a I and WhlCll is pivoted to turn about a nor- Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,051,387.

said shaft, and means for operating said auxiliary arm by motion derived from said shaft comprising a rock shaft journaled on said main arm and carrying said auxiliary arm, a reciprocating gear rack. guided to move "transversely on said main arm and meshing with a pinion on said rock shaft, an llltt'lllltftlltllfi rotating shaft journaled on the main arm. a pair of intermeshing bevel gears connecting the driving and intermediate shafts. and a link connecting said gear rack with a crank on said intermediate shaft.

9. shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing hand adapted to engage with a shoe id be polished, and means for supporting said band constructed to permit the same to be wrapped around said shoe and comprising a flexible bow having its opposite ends secured to opposite ends of the band, and an oscillating support connected with said how between the ends thereof.

10. shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe to be polished, and means for supporting said band constructed to permit the same to be wrapped around said shoe and an oscillating arm arranged and, front and rear bow springs and longicomprisin above the secured transversely to said arm, tndinal fastening bars connected with opposite ends of said band and each connected with one of the corresponding ends of the springs.

11. A shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe to be ing said band constructetd to permit the same to be wrapped around said shoe and comprising an oscillating arm arranged above the band, front and rear bow springs secured transversely to said arm, and longitudinal fastening bars connected with opposite ends of said band and each connected with one of the corresponding ends of the springs, said front. spring being stitl'erthan said rear spring.

\Vitness my hand this th day of April.

CHARLES F. BURKHART. \Vitnesses RALPH E. CARPENTER, Roy J. Sooner.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the- Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

n is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,051,387, v 1913, upon the application of Charles F. Burkhart, of New York,

improvement in Shoe-Polishing Machines,

specification requiring correction as follows.

Signed and sealed this th day of February, A. D., 1913.

[seen] granted January 28,

N. for an an error appearsdn the, printed Page 3, line 78, for the word clot-h read canal; end that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Olfice.

o. c. B ILLINGS, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

polished, and means for support Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,051,387.

said shaft, and means for operating said auxiliary arm by motion derived from said shaft comprising a rock shaft journaled on said main arm and carrying said auxiliary arm, a reciprocating gear rack. guided to move "transversely on said main arm and meshing with a pinion on said rock shaft, an llltt'lllltftlltllfi rotating shaft journaled on the main arm. a pair of intermeshing bevel gears connecting the driving and intermediate shafts. and a link connecting said gear rack with a crank on said intermediate shaft.

9. shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing hand adapted to engage with a shoe id be polished, and means for supporting said band constructed to permit the same to be wrapped around said shoe and comprising a flexible bow having its opposite ends secured to opposite ends of the band, and an oscillating support connected with said how between the ends thereof.

10. shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe to be polished, and means for supporting said band constructed to permit the same to be wrapped around said shoe and an oscillating arm arranged and, front and rear bow springs and longicomprisin above the secured transversely to said arm, tndinal fastening bars connected with opposite ends of said band and each connected with one of the corresponding ends of the springs.

11. A shoe polishing machine comprising a rubbing band adapted to engage with a shoe to be ing said band constructetd to permit the same to be wrapped around said shoe and comprising an oscillating arm arranged above the band, front and rear bow springs secured transversely to said arm, and longitudinal fastening bars connected with opposite ends of said band and each connected with one of the corresponding ends of the springs, said front. spring being stitl'erthan said rear spring.

\Vitness my hand this th day of April.

CHARLES F. BURKHART. \Vitnesses RALPH E. CARPENTER, Roy J. Sooner.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the- Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

n is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,051,387, v 1913, upon the application of Charles F. Burkhart, of New York,

improvement in Shoe-Polishing Machines,

specification requiring correction as follows.

Signed and sealed this th day of February, A. D., 1913.

[seen] granted January 28,

N. for an an error appearsdn the, printed Page 3, line 78, for the word clot-h read canal; end that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Olfice.

o. c. B ILLINGS, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

polished, and means for support 

